Spring loaded turn catch for packing case or the like



Sept. 7, 19.65 G. E. swANsoN SPRING LOADED TURN CATCH FOR PACKING CASE OR THE LIKE Filed April l2, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 6mm/ff Jim/vso ym@ :am

SePf- 7, 196.5 G. E. swANsoN 3,204,993

SPRING LOADED TURN CATCH FOR PACKING CASE OR THE LIKE Filed April l2, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 7, 1965 G. E. SWANSON 3,204,993

SPRING LOADED TURN CATCH FOR PACKING CASE OR THE LIKE Filed April l2, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,204 993 SPRING LOADED TURN CATCH FOR PACKING CASE OR Tim LIKE Gunnar E. Swanson, 499 Ridge Road, Middletown, Conn. Filed Apr. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 272,589 21 Claims. (Cl. 292-111) This invention relates to catches for releasably securing one part of a structure to another, such as the cover of a packing case to the main body thereof, and deals more particularly with a spring loaded catch of the turn type including a strike attached to one part of the structure and a catch unit attached to the other part. The latter unit includes a base adapted for attachment to said other part of the structure, a body pivotally connected to the base, a manually operable turn mechanism for telescoping a strike engageable hook element longitudinally of the body, and spring means between the base and body for exerting a resilient closing pressure between the two parts of the structure when the catch is closed.

One object of the present invention is to provide in a turn catch of the foregoing character a spring means of novel shape and construction permitting extensive spring action in a compact area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring loaded turn catch wherein high closing pressure is achieved with minimum manual pressure having to be exerted on the turning mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a turn catch of the foregoing character a novel spring means adapted to releasably hold the body of the catch in a raised position relative to the base after the body is moved to such position to avoid inadvertent engaging of the hook with the strike as the strike bearing part is moved from the part carrying the catch unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a spring loaded catch of the turn type an improved turn or operating mechanism which operates in conjunction with the spring means to resist inadvertent opening of the catch by shock loads, vibrations or the like.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this speciiication being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. l is a front view of a catch embodying the present invention, the hook element being shown engaged with a strike and the operating wing being shown in its raised or operative position, the retracted or inoperative position being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the FIG. 1 catch with the broken lines showing the telescoping hook in its extended or disengaged position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the FIG. 1 catch taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, the raised position of said body being shown in part in broken lines.

FIG. 4 is a plan View of the spring in its unstressed condition.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the spring with the solid lines showing it as it would appear in the catch of FIG. 1 `with the hook disengaged and with the broken lines showing it as it would appear with the hook engaged and the catch unit closed.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 3, the parts being in the positions corresponding to the lower or engaged position of the hook.

3,24,993 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the FIG. 1 catch taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional View of a catch comprising a slight modification of the catch shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the catch being shown with the catch body in its raised position and the plane of the view being located generally similar to the plane of the view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front view of a catch comprising another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. l0 is a sectional View of the catch of FIG. 9, the view being taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary front view of a catch generally similar to that of FIG. l but showing an alternative form of spring.

The spring loaded turn catch shown in FIG. 1 includes a strike 10 adapted to be xedly attached to a part A which is upwardly separable from a lower part B. The part A for example may be the cover, and the part B the body, of a conventional packing case. As shown the strike 10 comprises a hook portion 12, providing a generally upwardly facing bearing surface 13, and a generally iiat portion 15 having two openings for receiving rivets 14, 14 or the like for attaching the strike to the part A.

The catch also includes a catch unit 16 which has a base 1S adapted to be iixedly attached to the part B below the strike 10. A catch body 20 is pivotally connected with the base 13 for movement about a transverse horizontal axis. As shown, the base 18 comprises a U-shaped sheet metal member having a flat bottom portion 21 and outwardly projecting transversely spaced side anges 22, 22 extending longitudinally thereof. The bottom portion 21 extends downwardly or rearwardly beyond the side flanges 22, 22 and at its lower end is twice bent at substantially right angles to itself to define an outwardly extending transverse abutment or flange 23 and, at the outer end of the abutment 23, a downwardly or rearwardly extending transverse flange 24. A spring member 26 surrounds the upright base abutment 23 and has end portions 28, 28 which extend through longitudinally elongated openings 30, 30 in the flanges 22, 22. The end portions 28, 28 are generally aligned and serve to provide the pivotal connection between the body 20 and the base 18. The body 20 is formed from sheet metal and includes two transversely spaced side` tending between the outer edges of the side walls 32, 32

is a top portion 37 and at its lower end this portion is bent inwardly to provide an inwardly extending transverse ilange 38. Looking down from above the catch, as in FIG. l, it will be noted that the ange 38 includes two curved portions 42, 42 each of which curves laterally inwardly and upwardly from the associated side wall, and between the two curved portions is a straight portion 43 the plane of which is located a relative small distance below the axis of the openings 34, 34. As viewed in FIG. 7, the inner edge portion of the iiange 38 is shaped to deiine a substantially straight edge 45 extending across both the straight portion 43 and the curved portions 42, 42.

A strike engageable hook member 44 is telescopically received in the body 2t), it being movable longitudinally within and relative to said body between extended and retracted positions into and out of engagement with the hook portion 12 on the strike 10, as shown in FIG. 2,

to open or close the catch. In such movement the hook member 44 is guided and retained in place relative to the body at least :in part by the side walls 32, 32 and body flanges 36, 36.

`The turn mechanism for telescoping the hook member 44 relative to the body 20 is or may be generally similar to that shown and described in my copending application led January 3l, 1962, Serial No. 170,137, entitled Catch for Packing Case or the Like, to which application reference is made for a more detailed description of the turn mechanism. In the present application the illustrated turn mechanism is the same as that shown in FIGS. l to ll of said copending application, except for including, as brought out hereinafter, a differently shaped cam surface for engagement with the eccentric, this cam surface cooperating with the eccentric and with the spring to produce an improved closing action or holding characteristic. For the present it is sufficient to note that the illustrated turn mechanism, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, includes a manually operable wing 46 which is pivotally supported by a generally cylindrical member 48 for movement between raised and retracted or flattened positions as shown respectively by the solid and broken line representations of FIGS. 1 and 2. The cylindrical member 4S extends through an opening in the top portion 37 of the body 20 and is rotatably supported therein. An annular flange 54 on said member 48 prevents outward movement thereof relative to the body Ztl and a cap 56 :is secured to the member 48 by a pair of diametrically opposed rivets 58 and 60. Between the cap 56 and the top portion 37 is an annular spring 57 which surrounds the cylindrical member and includes inwardly extending protrusions which cooperate with notches 50, 50 adjacent the circumference of the opening in the top portion and act as a detent for releasably holding the cylindrical member in selected angular positions relative to the catch body. The spring 57 in cooperation with the cap 56 and top portion 37 also serves to prevent inward movement of the cylindrical member relative to the catch body.

The rivets 60 at its inner end carries a relatively large cylindrical head 62 which extends beyond the cylindrical member and constitutes an eccentric. As shown best in FIG. 6, the hook member 44 in the vicinity of the eccentric head 62 has an offset portion 64 defining a Space for receiving the eccentric head. At the upper end of the offset portion is a downwardly extending tongue 72 which extends into the aforesaid space toward the eccentric head, and on the opposite side of the eccentric head the offset portion is bent to provide an outwardly extending flange or wall 66. As viewed in FIG. 6, this flange includes a curved part, and this curved part instead of being of equal radius throughout its entire length, as in my copending application, includes one portion 68 having a generally upwardly facing surface with a radius of curvature approximately equal to the radius of the eccentric head plus the distance between its axis and the axis of the cylindrical member, and another portion 70 having an upwardly facing surface with a smaller radius of curvature. That is, the radius of curvature of the portion 68 is approximately equal to the radius of curvature of the path traced by the point on the eccentric head 62 most distant from the axis of rotation of the member 48 as the latter is rotated. The upwardly facing surfaces of the two curved portions 68 and 70 are engageable with such most distant point of the eccentric head 62 and provide cam surfaces for the latter. During closing movement of the catch the eccentric head moves in the clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow of FIG. 6, and the portions 68 and 70 are so located that the smaller radiused portion is engaged by the-eccentric after the latter is moved past the portion 68 and after it passes overcenter with respect to a vertical or longitudinal line passing through the rotational axis of the cylindrical member. A spacer 77 is interposed between the tongue Cil 72 and the eccentric head 62, the spacer being provided with two recesses which respectively receive and approximately lit the projection and the eccentric. When the eccentric 62 is rotated clockwise to the fully closed position as shown in FIG. 6, the left portion of the spacer 77 engages the left side wall 32 to prevent any additional movement of the cylindrical member and eccentric in the clockwise direction.

To open the catch the cylindrical member is movable in the counterclockwise direction somewhat more than 180 from the position shown in FIG. 6, the limit of such movement being again determined by engagement of the left side of the spacer with the left side wall. As the cylindrical member is so moved, the eccentric moves generally upwardly and this upward movement is transmitted through the space 77 and tongue 72 to the hook member to extend the latter upwardly relative to the catch body. In either closing or opening the catch it should be noted that as the eccentric head rides along the curved portion 68 little or no motion of the hook member relative to the catch body will take place due to the radius of said portion being equal to that of the path traced by the eccentric. More particularly, it will be noted that during closing movement of the catch the eccentric head 62 acts to move the hook member 44 downwardly relative to the catch body until such time as the head moves into engagement with the curved portion 68. Thereafter as the head Imoves along the portion 68, the hook member remains substantially stationary relative to the catch body until the eccentric head moves into engagement with the curved portion 70. After the head does reach the smaller curved portion 70, the hook member 44 moves forward a slight distance relative to the catch body and therefore acts to slightly back olf or relieve the closing pressure exerted between the hook member and the strike. Therefore, it will be seen that the arrangement of the curved portions 68 and 70 serves in cooperation with the eccentric head 62 and the spring 26 to provide a detent laction for Iholding the catch in its closed position and for preventing movement of the cylindrical member 48 and eccentric head 62 from the FIG. 6 position by accidental jostling or the like. In order to open the catch an excess force will have to be applied to the wing 46 to move the eccentric head out of the curved portion 70, this producing an accompanying slight rearward or downward movement of the hook member relative to the catch body before the hook member is moved in the upward or extending direction. In this regard it should be particularly noted that although the portion 70 has been shown of smaller radius than the portion 68, this is not an essential part of the configuration. The important consideration is that after moving across the portion 68, at which no motion of the hook member takes place, the eccentric during the nal portion of its closing movement engages a cam surface which slightly relieves the closing pressure or spring force. Such ya cam surface could be provided with a curvature very much larger than that of the portion 70, provided the centers of the curvature were properly located, and could even be a at surface. The cam surface may also be designed to provide for various different amounts of relaxing movement of the hook member during the final stage of the closing movement of the member 48, but preferably the degree of relaxation is kept small and one of the advantages of the present invention is that the cam surface may be designed to provide only a small amount of relaxation as compared to that produced by other eccentric motions conventionally used in catches, the relaxation in the present instance being preferably just enough to require the application of a slight extra amount of opening force to the member 48 when opening the catch as compared to the opening force required to open a catch having no relaxation.

Returning to the spring 26, it should be noted that it comprises a single length of relatively stiff spring wire bent into a shape having slightly less than two full convolutions surrounding the upright abutment 23. FIG. 4 shows the spring in its initial unassembled condition, the solid lines of FIG. 5 show its shape after assembly in the catch and with the catch opened, and the broken lines `of FIG. 5 show its shape after assembly in the catch and with the catch closed with the hook actively engaging a strik-e so that the end portions 28, 28 of the spring are located in the upper or forward portions of the elongated slots 30, 30. From either of these iigures it will be noted that the spring in addition to the generally transversely extending end portions 28, 28, includes two generally longitudinal portions 80, 80 each extending rearwardly from an associated one of the end portions, two generally transverse portions 82, 82 each integral with an associated one of the longitudinal portions Sti, 80 and each passing below the abutment 23 when the spring is assembled with the catch, and two generally forwardly extending portions S4, 84 each integral with a respective one of said transverse portions 82, 82 which two portions 84, 84 join at their forward ends to form a tongue 40. As shown in FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 7, the tongue 40 extends forwardly from the abutment 23 and under and beyond the ange 38. More particularly, the tongue extends beneath the edge 45 and the shape of the spring is further such that at its forward end the tongue is normally raised a slight distance from the bottom portion 21 of the base when the catch body is in its lowered position as shown by the solid lines of FIG. 3. When the catch body is in its closed or lowered position relative to the base 18, as shown by the solid lines of FIG. 3, the edge 45 of the body ange 38 is spaced a slight distance from the tongue of the spring. After the hook member 44 is disengaged from the strike, by turning the wing 46 to move the hook member upwardly, the catch body is pivotally movable about the axis of the spring end portions 28, 28 to a raised position, as partially shown by the broken lines of FIG. 3, to fully remove the hook member from the vicinity of the strike. As the catch body is so moved to its raised position, the edge engages -and wipes over the spring tongue depressing the latter toward the bottom portion 21 of the base and thereby causing a spring force to be exerted on the edge. When the catch body reaches its raised position, the spring tongue moves back to its initial position and the edge 45 either comes to rest on the tongue, as .shown in FIG. 3, or passes upwardly slightly beyond the tongue. In any event, the tongue must again be depressed in order to return the catch body to its lowered position and therefore the tongue serves in conjunction with the edge 45 as a detent for preventing the catch body from returning to its lowered position without the application of some delinite amount of force to the body. This assures that the catch body and hook member will not inadvertently move back to the lowered position at which position the hook member might interfere with the desired movement of the part A toward or away from the part B.

In considering the structure of the spring 26, it should further be noted that the transverse portions 82, 82 are bent to provide forwardly directed crooks or knees 41, 41 which engage the rear surface of the abutment 23. The two knees provide point contacts between the spring and the abutment 23. As the two end portions of the spring are pulled forwardly by closing of the catch, the knee portions actively permit iiexure of practically the entire spring, including portions of the tongue 40, and the exure is not limited merely to that portion of the spring located between each knee and its associated end portion 28. More particularly, the knees 41, 41 serve as fulcrum points for a levering action which is resisted by liexure of the spring in the vicinity of the tongue. As one end portion 28 moves forwardly for example, the associated longitudinal portion also moves forwardly and moves with it the associated end of the associated transverse portion 82. This forward movement of the end r 6 of the transverse portion causes some bending of the spring between said end and the associated knee and also causes some pivoting motion of the transverse portion about the knee tending to move the other end of the transverse portion in the opposite direction, or-rearwardly. This pivoting motion in turn causes and is resisted by bending of the transverse portion on the other side of the knee and by bending of the associated forward portion 84. This in turn allows the spring to be made compact in size and differs materially from other spring arrangements in which large portions of the spring are inactive insofar as producing any spring action is concerned.

In comparing the shape of the spring in its unassembled condition, as shown in FIG. 4, with its shape after assembly with the other parts of the catch, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 5, it will be noted that in order to assemble the spring with the other parts of the catch the end portions 28, 28 must be moved forwardly relative to the transverse portions 82, 82. This causes the transverse portions to assume the positions shown in FIG. 5 whereat the knees 41, 41 make point contact with the abutment 23. It also preloads the spring with the result that the catch body is urged by the spring toward a rearward position relative to the base by an initial spring force or preload which must be overcome by the closing pressure before any forward movement of the catch body will occur. It will of course be obvious that by proper designing of the spring any desired degree of preloading may be built into the catch.

It should also be noted that the spring 26, which resiliently resists forward movement of the catch body relative to the base, also cooperates with the turn mechanism to allow or make more effective the use of the secondary curved cam portion 70, particularly when no gasket or other resiliently yieldable means is used between the parts A and B. That is, in order to provide the detent action afforded by the portion 70, it is necessary that during movement of the eccentric head over the curved portion 68 the hook member be drawn slightly further into the catch body than desired as a inal condition, and where no gasketing is provided between the separable panels this is permitted by the spring which allows the catch body to move forwardly relative to the base, assuming the hook member to be firmly engaged with the strike. After the curved portion 70 is reached by the eccentric head, the hook member moves forwardly relative to the catch body, but this movement is taken up by a slight relaxing of the spring which still acts to maintain a resilient closing pressure between the parts A and B. Without the use of the spring in conjunction with the curved portion 70, the catch may exert an excessively high closing pressure between the two parts A and B during movement of the eccentric head over the curved Iportion 68, the wing may require a large force for turning, or after the catch is fully closed, some undesired looseness may exist between the two parts. Where gasketing or similar means is employed between the separable panels, the illustrated turn mechanism including the curved portion 70 may, if desired, be used without the spring 26.

Also, in considering the structure of the spring 26, it will be noted that it serves to allow the easy removal or replacement of the catch body 20 relative to the base 18 in that by spreading apart the longitudinal portions 80,

80, the laterally extending end portions 28, 2S may be moved out of engagement with the body to free the latter from the base. Therefore in case of any damage to the catch body, a new body may be substituted for the damaged one without the necessity of removing the base `18 from the structure to which it is attached. With regard to this feature of the catch, the elongated slots 30, 30 in the base are not necessary and the illustrated spring may be used to advantage in catches where the openings in the base flanges are merely circular so that the catch body is connected to the base for purely pivotal movement about an axis which is fixed relative to the base.

FIG. 8 shows a catch comprising a slight modification of the catch shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. In this modification the pivot axis for the catch body is so located relative to the base that the catch body is held relatively rigidly in its raised position by the tongue 40 of the spring which tongue bears flatly against the flange 38 when the catch is in its raised position. This compares with the previously illustrated catch wherein, as shown in FIG. 3, the spring tongue 4t) serves to prevent the return of the catch body to its closed position without the application of some additional force, but does not hold the catch body rigidly in an erect position. Comparing FIG. 8 with FIG. 3, it will be noted that the modification of FIG. 8 is achieved by moving the pivot axis of the catch body closer to the spring tongue 4t).

Instead of using the ends of the spring to pivotally connect the catch body to the base, a separate pivot pin may be used to provide the pivotal connection. An embodiment of the present invention utilizing such a pivot pin is shown in FIG. 9 wherein all parts of the illustrated catch are similar to the catch shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 except for the spring and pivot pin. As shown best in FIG. 9, a pivot pin 90 is provided which extends transversely through the elongated openings 30, in the base flanges 22, 22 and through the openings 34, 34 in the side walls 32, 32 of the catch body. The pivot pin 90 is of such length as to extend some distance laterally outwardly from each of the two base flanges 22, 22 and on each end is provided with an enlarged head 92. A spring 26a is provided which is or may be identical with the spring 26 of FIGS. 1 to 7 except for including longitudinal portions Stla, 89a provided with hooked or bent portions 94, 94 at their forward ends which latter portions are connected with the pivot pin 9@ as shown best in FIG. 10. It should also be understood that when the spring 26a is assembled with the other parts of the catch as shown in FIG. 9, it is held in a deformed state so as to exert a preloading force on the pivot pin 90 tending to urge the pivot pin and the catch body rearwardly in the same manner as the spring 26 in the catch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary illustration of a catch unit which may be taken to be identical with that of FIG. 1 except for employing an alternative form of spring, the flange 24 of the base being shown in phantom in this view to reveal more clearly the construction of the spring. The alternative spring is shown generally at 26h and instead of being formed from a single length of spring material, as the springs 26 and 26a, actually consists of two separate and substantially identical spring elements C and D. Taking either of the elements C and D, it will be noted that it includes a laterally inwardly directed end portion 28h similar to one of the portions 28, 2S of the spring 26, a longitudinal portion Stib similar to one of the portions 80, 80 of the spring 26, and a transverse portion 8217 similar to one of the transverse portions 82, S2 of the spring 26. The transverse portion passes behind the abutment 23 and has a knee 41h, similar to the knees 4-1, 41, which engage the rearwardly facing surface of the abutment. In addition to these portions each spring element also includes another transverse portion ltltl which at one end is integrally connected with the portion 82h and at its other end is bent to form a hook 102 which is hooked around one lateral edge of the abutment 23 as shown. With this spring construction, substantially the same extensive spring action in a compact area is achieved as with the spring 26 or 26a. It will also be noted that although the knees 41h, 1b are shown provided on the transverse portions S217, 82h so as to engage the rear surface of the abutment they could be omitted from said latter portions and instead be provided on the transverse portions 100, 100, in which case they would be directed forwardly so as to engage the front surface of the abutment.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to one of said panels and including an abutment arranged so as to be disposed in an upright position relative to said one panel when said base is attached thereto and which abutment includes a rearwardly facing abutment surface; a catch body supported for rotation between raised and lowered positions relative to said base about a transverse axis located forwardly of said abutment, said axis being fixed relative to said catch body and movable longitudinally relative to said base toward or away from a rearward limit; and a spring comprising a single length of spring material having a portion which passes behind and engages said abutment surface, two longitudinal portions each of which extends forwardly from a respective side of said abutment, and two end portions each of which is located on the forward end of a respective one of said longitudinal portions and is longitudinally fixed relative to said pivot axis, said spring acting between said abutment and said pivot axis to urge said pivot axis toward its rearward limit and to resiliently resist movement of the same away from said rearward limit.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said two end portions of said spring each being directed laterally inwardly from its associated longitudinal portion and defining said pivot axis, said base including means defining two laterally spaced longitudinally elongated slots each receiving a respective one of said end portions, and said catch body including means defining two laterally spaced openings of substantially the same cross-sectional size and shape as said end portions and each of which openings receives a respective one of said end portions.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said pivot axis being defined by a transverse pivot pin longitudinally xed relative to said catch body and supported for limited longitudinal movement relative to said base, and said end portions of said spring each being connected with said pivot pin so that said spring urges said pin toward a rearward position.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said spring prior to assembly in said catch being of such size and shape as to be maintained in a deformed condition when assembled with the other parts of said catch and when said pivot axis is in the rearward limit of its movement relative to said base whereby a spring preload force is exerted on said pivot axis tending to maintain the same in said rearward limit of lits movement.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said spring being shaped so as to form more than one and less than two full convolutions surrounding said abutment and including two transverse portions passing rearwardly of said abutment, each of said transverse spring portions being bent to provide a forwardly directed knee engaging said wall in substantially point contact.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 further characterized by said spring including two generally forwardly extending portions each integrally connected directly with one of said transverse portions and which two portions are integrally connected with each other to define a tongue, and a transverse flange on said body located rearwardly of said pivot axis and having an inner edge spaced inwardly of said pivot axis when said catch body is in its lowered position, said tongue passing under said edge and being so arranged as to be engageable with and deflected by said flange as said body is moved between its lowered and raised positions and to thereby serve in conjunction with said iiange as a detent for resisting movement of said catch body from its lowered to its raised position and for resisting return movement of said catch body to its lowered position.

7. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said spring including a tongue portion located forwardly with respect to said abutment, and a transverse liange on said body which flange is adapted to engage and deilect said tongue portion during movement of said catch body between its raised and lowered positions and to act in conjunction with said spring as a detent for resisting return movement of said catch body to its lowered position.

8. In a catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to one of said panels, a catch body supported for rotation between raised and lowered positions relative to said base about a transverse axis iixed relative to said catch body and movable longitudinally relative to said base toward or away from a rearward limit; a transversely extending part on said body, and a spring acting between said pivot axis and said base to urge said pivot axis rearwardly toward its rearward limit of longitudinal movement relative to said base and to resiliently resist forward movement of said axis relative to said base, said spring including a tongue portion having a normal position relative to said base from which normal position it is resiliently deliectable, said tongue portion being so arranged as torbe engaged and deflected by said transverse part of said catch body as said catch body is rotated between its raised and lowered position and so as to serve in conjunction with said transverse part to resist movement of said catch body from its lowered to its raised position and to resist return movement of said catch body to its lowered position.

9. In a catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to one of said panels and having two transversely spaced side flanges provided with transversely aligned longitudinally elongated openings, a catch body having two side walls each located adjacent -a respective one of said side anges and each having an opening registering generally with the elongated opening in the associated side flange, a transverse ange on said body, and a spring acting between said body and base to urge said body rearwardly and which spring includes two end portions each of which extends transversely through a respective one of said elongated openings and through the body opening in registration therewith to pivotally connect said body to said base for movement relative to said base between lowered and raised positions, said spring also including a tongue portion engageable with said transverse body ange to releasably hold said catch body in its raised position.

10. In a catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to one of said panels and having two transversely spaced side flanges provided with transversely aligned longitudinally elongated openings, said base also including a transversely extending abutment located rearwardly of said elongated openings; a catch bodyv having two side walls each located adjacent a respective one of said side flanges and each having an opening registering generally with the elongated opening in the associated side ange; and a spring comprising a single length of spring material having a portion which passes behind and engages the rear surface of said abutment, two longitudinal portions each of which extends forwardly from the respective side of said abutment, and two end portions each of which is located on the forward end of a respective one of said longitudinal portions and extends laterally inwardly through the elongated opening in the associated base side ilange and through the opening in the associated catch body side wall to pivotally connect said catch body to said base for movement relative to said base between lowered and raised positions about a transverse pivot axis fixed relative to said catch body and movable a limited amount longitudinally of said base.

11. In a catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to one of said panels and having two transversely spaced side tlanges provided with transversely aligned longitudinally elongated openings, said base also including a transversely extending abutment located rearwardly of said elongated openings; a catch body having two side walls each located adjacent a respective one of said side flanges and each having an opening registering generally with the elongated opening in the assoicated side ange; a transverse pivot pin passing through said elongated openings in said base flanges and through said openings in said catch body side walls to pivotally connect said catch body to said base for movement relative to said 'base between lowered and raised positions about a transverse pivot -axis fixed relative to said catch body and movable a limited amount longitudinally of said base; and a spring comprising a single llength of spring material having a portion which passes behind and engages the rear surface of said abutment, two longitudinal portions each of which extends forwardly from the respective side of said abutment, and two end portions each of which is located on the forward end of ya respective one of said longitudinal portions and is at least partially hooked around said pivot pin, said spring serving to urge said pivot pin toward its rearward position relative to said base. j

12. In a catch for relea-sably joining two separable panels or the like, one of which includes a strike, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to the other of said panels and including an abutment arranged so as to be disposed in an upright position relative to said one panel when said base is attached thereto and which abutment includes a rearwardly facing abutment-surface; a catch body supported for rotation relative to said base about a transverse axis located forwardly of said abutment, said axis being xed relative to said catch body and movable longitudinally relative to said base toward or away from a rearward limit; a spring comprising a single length of spring material having a portion which passes behind and engages said surface, two longitudinal portions each of which extends forwardly from a respective side of said abutment, and two end portions each of which is located on the forward end of a respective one of said longitudinal portions and is longitudinally xed relative to said pivot axis, said spring acting between said abutment and said pivot axis -to urge said pivot axis toward its rearward limit and to resiliently resist movement of the same away from said rearward limit; a hook member telescopically movable relative to said catch body between extended and retracted positions and adapted to engage said strike and exert closing pressure between said two panels as it is moved from said extended to said retracted position; and a turn mechanism carried by said body for extending and retracting said hook member, said turn mechanism including means defining -a carn surface iixed relative to said hook member and an eccentric head rotatable between open and closed positions about an axis fixed relative to `said catch body and which eccentric head is engageable with said cam surface for moving said hook member, said cam surface being so shaped that when rotating said eccentric head in the direction to retract said hook member said eccentric head during the nal portion of it-s movement rst passes over a substantial portion of lsaid cam surface at which no motion of said hook member occurs and then passes over a portion of said cam surface permitting 'a slight extending movement of said hook member to accordingly slightly relax the closing pressure exerted between .said two panels and to lthereby provide a force tending to hold said eccentric in the closed position.

13. In a turn catch for releasa'bly joining two separable panels or the like, one of which includes a strike, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to `the other of said panels, a catch body pivotally connected with said base for movement between raised and lowered positions relative to said base about a transverse axis xed relative to said body and movable a limited extent longitudinally relative to said body between forward and rearward positions, a spring active between said base and catch body for urging said transverse pivotal axis toward its rearward position, a hook member telescopically movable relative to said catch body between a forward extended position and a rearward retracted position and adapted as it is moved from said extended to said retracted position to engage said strike and cause forward movement of said pivot axis against the force of said spring thereby exerting a closing pressure between said two panels which closing pressure is resisted by said spring, and a turn mechanism carried by said body for extending and retracting said hook member, said turn mechanism including means defining a cam surface fixed relative to said hook member and an eccentric head rotatable between open and closed positions about an axis fixed relative to said catch body and engageable with said cam surface for moving said hook member, stop means comprising coengageable parts for positively preventing rotation of said eccentric head in the closing direction beyond said closed position, said cam surface being so shaped that when rotating said eccentric head in the closing direction said eccentric head immediately before reaching its closed position passes over a portion of said cam surface permitting a slight extending movement of said hook member to accordingly slightly relax the closing pressure exerted between said two panels and to thereby provide a force tending to hold said eccentric head lin the closed position with said coengageable parts of said stop means in coengagement.

14. ln a turn catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, one of which includes a strike, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to the other of said panels, a catch body pivotally connected with said base for movement between raised and lowered positions relative to said base about a transverse axis fixed relative to said body and movable a Ilimited extent longitudinally relative to said body between forward and rearward positions, a spring active between said base and catch body for urging said transverse pivotal axis toward its rearward position, a hook member telescopically movable relative to said catch body between a forward extended position and a rearward retracted position Vand adapted as it is moved from said extended to said retracted position to engage said strike and cause forward movement of said pivot axis against the force of said spring thereby exerting a closing pressure between said two panels which closing pressure is resisted by said spring, and a turn mechanism carried by said body for extending and retracting said hook member, said turn mechanism including means defining a cam surface fixed relative to said hook member and an eccentric head rotatable between open and closed positions about an axis xed relative to said catch body and engageable with said cam surface for moving said hook member, said cam surface having a first arcuate portion wit-h a radius of curvature substantially equal to the curvature of the path traced by the point on said eccentric head most radially distant from said axis of rotation, said first portion being so arranged as to be engaged by said eccentric head as the latter nears its closed position during rotation in the closing direction, and said cam surface having a second portion arranged for engagement by said eccentric head during rotation in the closing direction after the latter passes over said first portion and reaches the limit of its closing movement, said second cam surface portion 'being so shaped as to permit said hook member to move forwardly a slight amount as compared to the position occupied during movement of said eccentric head over said first cam surface portion to accordingly slightly relax the clos-ing pressure exerted between said two panels and to thereby provide .a force tending to hold said eccentric in the closed position.

15. The combination defined in claim 14 further characterized by said eccentric head being cylindrical and said i2 second portion of said cam surface being arcuate with a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said eccentric head.

16. In a catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, one of which includes a strike, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to one of said panels and having two transversely spaced side fianges provided with transversely aligned longitudinally elongated openings, a catch body having two side walls each located adjacent a respective one of said side flanges and each having an opening registering generally with the elongated opening in the associated side fiange, a spring comprising a single length of spring material and having two end portions each of which extends laterally inwardly through a respective one of said elongated openings and through the body opening in registration therewith to pivotally connect said catch body to said base for movement between raised and lowered positions relative to said base and said spring being active between said body and said base to urge said body rearwardly, a transverse liange on said body, a tongue forming a portion of said spring and engageable with said transverse body iiange to releasably hold said catch body in its raised position, a hook member telescopically movable relative to said catch body between extended and retracted positions and adapted to engage said strike and exert closing pressure between said two panels as it is moved from said extended to said retracted position; and a turn mechanism carried by said body for extending and retracting said hook member, said turn mechanism including means defining a cam surface fixed relative to said hook member and an eccentric head rotatable between open and closed positions about an axis fixed relative to said catch body and engageable with said cam surface for moving said hook member, said cam surface being so shaped that when rotating said eccentric head in the direction to retract said hook member said eccentric head before passing overcenter relative to said axis of eccentric rotation passes over a substantial portion of said cam surface at which no motion of said hook member occurs and then after passing overcenter relative to said axis of eccentric rotation passes over a portion of said cam surface permitting a slight extending movement of said hook member to accordingly slightly relax the closing pressure exerted between said two panels and to thereby provide a force tending to hold said eccentric in the closed position.

17. In a turn catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, one of which includes a strike, the combination comprising a base, a catch body pivotally connec-ted to said base, a strike engageable hook member telescopically received in said catch body and .movable into and out of engagement with said strike to open or close the catch, and a turn mechanism carried by said body for telescoping said hook member, said turn mechanism including an eccentric head rotatable about an axis fixed relative to said catch body between open and closed positions corresponding respectively to open and closed positions of said hook member, a first arcuate cam surface on said hook member having a radius of curvature approximately equal to the path traced lby the point on said eccentric head most distant from said axis of rotation and which surface is arranged so as to be engaged by said eccentric head as the latter nears its closed position, and a second cam surface adjacent said first cam surface which second cam surface is arranged to be engaged by said eccentric head after passing over said first cam surface and when said eccentric head is in its closed. position, said second cam surface being so shaped as to permit said hook member to move a slight distance in the opening direction relative to said base as compared to the position occupied by said hook member during movement of said eccentric over said first cam surface and to thereby provide a force tending to hold said eccentric in its closed position.

`1S. The combination defined in claim 17 further characterized by said eccentric head being cylindrical in shape and said second cam surface being generally arcuate with a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of said eccentric head.

19. In a catch for releasabtly joining two separable panels or the like, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to one of said panels and having two transversely spaced side flanges provided with transversely .aligned openings, said base also including an upright abutment located rearwardly of said openings; a catch body having two side walls each located adjacent a respective one of said side flanges and each having an opening registering generally with the opening in the associated side flange; and a spring means which surrounds said abutment and includes two :longitudinal portions each of which extends forwardly from a respective side of said abutment and two end portions each of which is located on the forward end of a respective one of said longitudinal portions and extends laterally inwardly through the opening in the associated base side ange and through lthe opening in the associated catch body side wall to pivotally connect said catch body to said base for movement relative to said base between lowered and raised positions about a transverse pivot axis, said longitudinal portions being resiliently movable transversely relative to each other lto remove said end portions from connecting relationship with said catch body and said base.

20. In a catch for releasably joining two separable panels or the like, the combination comprising a base adapted for attachment to one of said panels and including an abutment arranged so as -to be disposed in `an lupright position relative to said one panel when said base is 4attached thereto; a catch body supported for rotation between raised and lowered positions relative to said base about a transverse axis located forwardly of said abutment, said axis being fixed relative to said catch body and movable longitudinally relative to said base toward or away from a rearward limit; and a spring means having a portion which surrounds and engages said abutment, two longitudinal portions each of which extends forwardly from a respective side of said abutment, and two end portions each of which is located on the forward end of a respective one of said longitudinal portions and is longitudinally xed relative to said pivot axis, said spring acting between said abut-ment and said pivot axis to urge said pivot axis toward its rearward limit and to resiliently resist movement of the same away from said rearward limit.

21. The combination delined in claim 20 further characterized by said spring means comprising two separate spring elements each of which separate elements includes one of said longitudinal portions, one of -said end portions and two transverse portions one of which transverse portions passes behind said abutment and the other of which transverse portions passes in front of said abutment, one of said transverse portions being formed to provide a knee which engages said abutment at a substantially point contact.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,820,995 l/ 58 Schlueter 292-111 X M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner. 

9. IN A CATCH FOR RELEASABLY JOINING TWO SEPARABLE PANELS OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A BASE ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO ONE OF SAID PANELS AND HAVING TWO TRANSVERSELY SPACED SIDE FLANGES PROVIDED WITH TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED OPENINGS, A CATCH BODY HAVING TWO SIDE WALLS EACH LOCATED ADJACENT A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID SIDE FLANGES AND EACH HAVING AN OPENING REGISTERING GENERALLY WITH THE ELONGATED OPENING IN THE ASSOCIATED SIDE FLANGE, A TRANSVERSE FLANGE ON SAID BODY, AND A SPRING ACTING BETWEEN SAID BODY AND BASE TO URGE SAID BODY REARWARDLY AND WHICH SPRING INCLUDES TWO END PORTIONS EACH OF WHICH EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY THROUGH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID ELONGATED OPENINGS AND THROUGH THE BODY OPENING IN REGISTRATION THEREWITH TO PIVOTALLY CONNECT SAID BODY TO SAID BASE FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID BASE BETWEEN LOWERED AND RAISED POSITIONS, SAID SPRINGS ALSO INCLUDING A TONGUE PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TRANVERSE BODY FLANGE TO RELEASABLY HOLD SAID CATCH BODY IN ITS RAISED POSITION. 